So Expensive Season 3 Marathon

Business Insider74 minutes read

Oil paint can cost over $1,000 per liter, with high-quality paint containing up to 75% pigment. Birkin bags sell for over half a million dollars and are handmade in France, thriving due to limited availability and desirability.

Insights

  • Oil paint prices can range from $285 to over $1,000 per liter, varying based on color and quality, with high-quality paint containing up to 75% pigment.
  • Historical pigments like Tyrian purple and Indian yellow were costly due to rarity, while Ultramarine, derived from lapis lazuli, was expensive until a synthetic version emerged in 1826.
  • Breeding dogs for specific traits can lead to costly care, with champion dogs commanding high stud fees, but sudden popularity can result in overbreeding and abandonment, as seen with Tibetan Mastiffs in China.

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Recent questions

  • Why are Birkin bags so expensive?

    Birkin bags are highly priced due to their exclusivity, limited availability, and high demand in the luxury market. Crafted by hand in France, these bags are made from high-quality materials and are associated with a prestigious brand, contributing to their hefty price tags.

  • What makes pink Himalayan salt popular?

    Pink Himalayan salt's popularity is largely driven by its aesthetic appeal, especially on platforms like Instagram, where visually appealing items gain traction. Despite claims of health benefits, the high cost and superior taste, the salt's popularity is more about its visual appeal and status symbol rather than its actual benefits.

  • How are melons graded at Kilohana State School?

    Melons at Kilohana State School are graded into four categories based on sugar content and appearance. Only 0.1% of the melons reach the highest grade, Fuji, showcasing the meticulous attention to quality and standards in the melon production process.

  • Why is Manuka honey expensive?

    Manuka honey from New Zealand is expensive due to its rarity, unique properties, and limited harvesting period. Tested for specific compounds to ensure authenticity, the honey undergoes different grading systems to indicate its quality, making it a sought-after and costly product in the market.

  • What led to the surge in popularity of pigeon racing in China?

    Pigeon racing in China saw a surge in popularity due to high investments in the birds, transforming the sport into a status symbol. With pigeons selling for millions and becoming prized possessions, the sport gained traction, attracting enthusiasts and investors alike.

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Summary

00:00

Luxury Oil Paint and Birkin Bag Prices

  • Oil paint can cost over $1,000 per liter, with prices ranging from $285 to $1,000 depending on color and quality.
  • Oil paint is made from a drying oil like flaxseed and pigment, with high-quality paint containing up to 75% pigment.
  • Historical pigments like Tyrian purple, Indian yellow, and mummy brown were expensive due to their rarity and production process.
  • Ultramarine, made from lapis lazuli, was highly valued and expensive until a synthetic version was created in 1826.
  • Oil paint production involves mixing pigments and additives like oil, testing viscosity and color, and grinding pigments to specific fineness.
  • Small samples of each color are tested for consistency and light fastness, with quality crucial for long-lasting artworks.
  • Hermes Birkin bags can sell for over half a million dollars, with the most expensive Himalaya Birkin bag selling for $500,000.
  • Birkin bags were created after a chance encounter between Jane Birkin and the Hermes CEO, with each bag made by hand in France.
  • Birkin bags are exclusive and sought-after, with a thriving resale market due to limited availability and high demand.
  • Counterfeit Birkin bags flood the market, with tips to spot fakes including checking handle length, hardware shine, and supple leather feel.

15:37

Samoyeds: grooming, breeding, and pink salt trends.

  • Samoyeds are a joyful breed with interesting habits like barking and digging, requiring early training to prevent these behaviors.
  • Regular grooming, recommended at ten minutes a day, is essential for Samoyeds due to their heavy coat that sheds once or twice a year.
  • Pedigree dogs have a documented lineage showing multiple generations, which can increase their value significantly, especially if they have healthy parents.
  • Purebred dogs can be costly to care for, with higher vet bills, and certain breeds like Samoyeds are prone to specific health conditions like diabetes and heart issues.
  • Breeding dogs for specific temperaments or features can lead to higher prices, with champion dogs commanding stud fees of over $1000.
  • Breeding can save vulnerable dog breeds from extinction, like the Lochan breed, which was rescued from near extinction by dedicated breeders.
  • However, sudden popularity can lead to overbreeding and abandonment, as seen with Tibetan Mastiffs in China, once highly prized but later discarded.
  • Pink Himalayan salt, popular for its supposed health benefits, is significantly more expensive than regular table salt, with claims of aiding weight loss and improving sleep.
  • Pink salt is mined in specific regions like Pakistan and contains various minerals, but the health benefits are minimal due to the low percentage of these minerals in the salt.
  • Despite the high cost and claims of superior taste, pink Himalayan salt's popularity is largely driven by aesthetics, especially on platforms like Instagram, where visually appealing items gain traction.

32:52

"Melons, Bonsai, and Manuka: A Horticultural Journey"

  • Melons at Kilohana State School take 100 days to grow, with 20 varieties of crown melon seeds grown depending on the season.
  • Farmers give constant attention to melons, controlling water amounts with raised beds and maintaining constant temperatures.
  • Melons are graded into four categories based on sugar content and appearance, with only 0.1% reaching the highest grade, Fuji.
  • After 50 days, plants start flowering, and fruits are carefully wrapped in white paper as they grow.
  • Agricultural cooperatives oversee melon distribution, ensuring quality and high prices.
  • Bonsai trees require years of training and dedication, with some selling for millions of dollars.
  • Bonsai masters like Chiaki Yamamoto emphasize patience and skill in growing these miniature trees.
  • Bonsai trees are valued for their beauty and the vision of the artist, with some over 800 years old.
  • Manuka honey from New Zealand is expensive due to its rarity, unique properties, and limited harvesting period.
  • Manuka honey is tested for specific compounds like DHA and HMF to ensure authenticity, with different grading systems indicating quality.

50:40

"Pigeon Racing and Lobster: A History"

  • Pedigree birds, like racing pigeons, can fetch high prices, with Armando selling for over 1.4 million to a bidder in China in March 2019.
  • Pigeons have a long history of domestication, being used for various purposes like sending messages and entertainment, with over 800 breeds existing, some bred for exhibition.
  • Messenger pigeons were utilized in ancient Egypt and Rome, with Pliny the Elder noting their high value in his book Natural History.
  • Homing pigeons were the fastest way to send messages until the invention of the Telegraph in 1844, playing significant roles in both World Wars.
  • Pigeon racing became popular post-war, transforming into a pastime for the working class, but has seen a surge in popularity in China, leading to high investments in the birds.
  • Despite a decline in British pigeon fanciers, the sport is growing in Asia, with pigeons selling for millions and becoming status symbols.
  • Challenges in the pigeon racing world include smuggling birds on trains and criminal activities like kidnapping valuable racing pigeons for ransom.
  • Lobsters, once considered the "cockroaches of the sea," have become a gourmet dish, with American and European lobsters being the most recognizable species.
  • Lobsters are expensive due to low meat yield, historical associations with poverty, and the complex process of catching and distributing them.
  • Supreme, a streetwear brand, has evolved from a small skateboarding store in New York to a billion-dollar company, known for limited releases, artist collaborations, and iconic designs like the box logo.

01:05:54

Supreme's Exclusivity and Wagyu's Global Popularity

  • Supreme's brand power lies in its exclusivity and recognizability, with limited releases on Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m.
  • To purchase from Supreme, one must provide basic information on their website and wait for a text confirmation to stand in line at a specific store on Thursday.
  • Supreme enforces a one-limit per style rule, necessitating collaboration with others to obtain desired items.
  • Supreme merchandise is only available at 11 physical stores globally and online, with its popularity surging in the mid to late 2000s.
  • Supreme's collaboration with Nike in 2006 led to significant resale value spikes, exemplified by Kanye West and Tyler the Creator's influence.
  • Reselling Supreme items can be lucrative, with careful selection based on personal preference and market trends.
  • Supreme's limited releases result in significant price increases post-sellout, fostering exclusivity and demand.
  • Wagyu beef from Japan is renowned for its marbling and taste, with high-grade Wagyu costing up to $200 per pound.
  • Wagyu cattle are bred for endurance and intramuscular fat, leading to tender meat, with strict Japanese regulations ensuring quality.
  • Wagyu's popularity globally contrasts with a slight decline in Japan, prompting other countries to breed their own Wagyu, potentially lowering costs.

01:20:27

Jordan Brand: Luxury, Status, and Strategy

  • The Jordan Brand's rollout of the Jordan three, connected with Spike Lee, led to iconic commercials, establishing the brand as a luxury product in the US.
  • Jordans were marketed as luxury items, priced at $100, significantly higher than competitors like Converse.
  • The brand's association with MJ's talent and style created a cultural phenomenon, making Jordans a status symbol.
  • By the 90s, Jordans were highly coveted, leading to violence and even fatalities over the sneakers.
  • Oversaturation of the market in the 2010s led to "Jordan fatigue," prompting the brand to reevaluate its strategy.
  • Nike's CEO implemented an edit and amplify strategy to streamline sneaker ideas, reconnect with young consumers, and maintain Jordan's allure.
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